I have recently joined the Hampshire Woodturners Association (HWA).

One of the machines that I inherited from my Dad was a wood turning lathe and, not having done any wood turning since my mid teens at school, I decided that I would make use of the lathe and do some turning.  Happily, a retired patient of mine, who I have known for many years, is a very keen and accomplished amateur wood turner.  Richard has taken me under his wing, keen to get me started with wood turning, and we have done a few projects together, most notably a housing for the brass porthole in my office door.

At a recent HWA meeting, I won a couple of beech ‘blanks’ in the raffle and, having bought some tool sharpening tools, dust extraction and other protective gear, I have now turned them up into a couple of bowls. Aficionados will spot not only the progression of technique/?ability from my first solo bowl to the second but will no doubt, have some useful criticism to make.  Anyhow, I am pleased with my efforts, and glad to have started this new craft and skill.  It feels like another step in moving forward … moving on.  I must say, that when I am at the wood lathe, making shavings and sawdust, everything else goes out of my mind … it’s really therapeutic.

This first, a highly figured, bowl, is turned from spalted beech, where fungus has infiltrated the grain – https://www.thewoodplace.com/wood-types/spalted-beech.

The second bowl, is also beech, but this one not spalted.

Patience please … it’s too early for commissions!  Anyway, I hope you like the attached photos.

Tomorrow is the November HWA monthly meeting, and I will take these first two solo efforts, to see what the experts think, and to learn what I can do to improve.